Going up against a Cardiff team with two hard fought victories behind them was nothing to look down at even for the recent champions. It was a physical game that proved to be tit-for-tat across eighty-minutes when it came to scoring with both teams gaining points off the back of some excellent rugby. It was a game full of mistakes and frustratingly for Matt Sherratt’s men – that area was not in their favour.
Cardiff – 36
Glasgow Warriors – 52
Although they come away with a bonus point win, Glasgow will not be looking at this game in a positive light. In an unfamiliar fashion their defence was put under some serious pressure throughout the game. If they wish to keep the hopes of a play-off place alive they must correct these issues prior to some of the big fixtures ahead, where they may not get off so lightly.
The first half was a dominant one for the Warriors. The half provided some highly entertaining rugby in the form of seven tries – with only two coming from Cardiff. The visitors’ tries came through Dobie, Jordan, Jones, Rowe, and Tuipulotu. Scorers from Cardiff were Dan Thomas and Cam Winnett. Glasgow finished the half on a commanding lead of 12-33.
With three tries each in the final forty minutes it was free flowing rugby again with Cardiff showing great determination by pulling themselves back into the game and decreasing Glasgow’s lead to just four points. That was as close as they got to regaining control of the game, Glasgow soon after pulled away, scoring two tries in under ten minutes leaving Cardiff with a bonus point
It was a nightmarish start for Cardiff as number eight Alun Lawrence made an unforced error from kick off, knocking the ball on and giving Glasgow easy access into their twenty-two.
The home side’s woes had only just begun as only four minutes later Jamie Dobie capitalised on a neglectful Cardiff defence. A classic scrum half snipe, followed by some good footwork, saw him run around Cardiff fly half Callum Sheedy with ease to dot it down over the line and open the scoring. Jordan successfully converted.
Cardiff managed to strike back through an intelligent bit of play from back row player Dan Thomas. Dobie attempted to clear his lines until Thomas shoved him mid kick with the ball falling perfectly at the flanker’s feet for him to simply fall on to score the equaliser. Sheedy added the two with a conversion.
The next score came from Cardiff once more as they showed a dominant scrum and slick set piece to set them up in front of Glasgow’s posts. The ball was then put through the hands to eventually find its way to Winnett who slipped through two tackles to give his team the lead. Sheedy failed to convert this time.
In an almost identical way, Glasgow scored a few minutes later with Tuipulotu crashing over the gain line. A nice, short pass to Kyle Rowe at full speed allowed him squeeze his way through two defenders to even the score again. Jordan with another successful conversion.
It wasn’t long before Glasgow got their third try as Tom Jordan made a great defensive read. He went on to run in the eight-metre-try putting Glasgow ahead. Sione Tuipulotu then, once again, reminded us of his physical presence as he ran over Sheedy and stepped past three defenders to add to Glasgow’s lead. Jordan once again successfully converted.
Jordan’s strong influence then came into play again as he made a break down the touchline from a high ball. An outstanding offload then came to Huw Jones who ran in Glasgow’s fifth try of the night. Jordan converted his own try.
A strong reply from Cardiff with some smooth hands and good support got them to the opposite touchline and gave replacement Mackenzie Martin a try. It was successfully converted by De Beer to make it 26-33.
Glasgow’s next try came in a more usual fashion with their rolling maul steaming over the line putting Matt Fagerson on the scoreboard. Jordan converted the extra two.
A breakaway from the maul and a snappish pick and go by Ben Donnell brought Cardiff back into the game with ten minutes to go.
The last two tries of the game came through breaks from Dempsey and Afshar respectively. The first was finished off by Rowe with a regathered grubber. The second from a well timed pass by Duncan Weir which put Tom Jordan into the corner for his second score.
Teams –
Glasgow Warriors: R.Sutherland, J.Matthews, S.Talakai, A.Samuel, S.Cummings, G.Brown, M.Fagerson, J.Dempsey, J.Dobie, T.Jordan, F.Cordero, S.Tuipulotu, H.Jones, K.Rowe, J.McKay, G.Hiddellston, J.Bhatti, P.Shickerling, R.Gray, M.Williamson, E.Ferrie, B.Afshar, D.Weir
Cardiff: C.Domachowski, L.Belcher, K.Assiratti, J.Mcnally, T.Williams, B.Donnell, D.Thomas, A.Lawrence, A.Davies, C.Sheedy, H.Millard, B.Thomas, R.Lee-lo, M.Grady, C.Winnett, E.Lloyd, E.Byrne, R.Litterick, R.Thornton, M.Martin, E.Bevan, T.De Beer, G.Hamer-Webb
